The information I have suggests that he joined up in 1915 (else he would have been awarded the 1914 medal). He joined the Kings Own (Liverpool Regiment) where he was a private in the infantry along with - literally hundreds of thousands of other servicemen. He was posted to France where most of the "action" was and as a private in the infantry his wartime life would be "less than pleasant" and he would have no priveliges. I have no record of what his duties were, but I suspect he was "in there" along with all the others. Who knows what he saw, did or was exposed to during those aweful years. He was awarded the Silver War Badge, which means he left service because of medical reasons - the detail is unknown but would be physically wounded or maybe gassed (though I think this would have ruined his renouned voice).
I have been lucky during my lifetime in not having to participate in war, but I have met many who have been to war. This I know: on return they are not the same person as they were when they left - and they bring back an assortment of "ghosts" from the experience which persist through the rest of their lives. I think the only remaining family member who might understand this would be Uncle Arthur who served in WWII. Today we recognize many of the traumas as legitimate side-efects of war but back then? I don't think so - John and his immediate family would be left to deal with them in private.
Lucky for us all (else none of us would be here) he made it through to meet and marry Grandma - and the rest is history, as they say.
THE MEDALS:
The 1914-15 Star (Established in December 1918.)
This bronze medal was authorized in 1918. Broadly speaking it was awarded to all who served in any theatre of war against Germany between 5th August 1914 and 31st December 1915.
The 1914-15 Star was not awarded alone. The recipient had to have received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. The reverse is plain with the recipient's service number, rank, name and unit impressed on it.
An estimated 2.4 million of these medals were issued.
The British War Medal, 1914-18 (Established on 26th July 1919.)
The silver or bronze medal was awarded to officers and men of the British and Imperial Forces who either entered a theatre of war or entered service overseas between 5th August 1914 and 11th November 1918 inclusive.
Approximately 6.5 million British War Medals were issued. Approximately 6.4 million of these were the silver versions of this medal. The front (obv or obverse) of the medal depicts the head of George V.
The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.
The Allied Victory Medal
It was decided that each of the allies should each issue their own bronze victory medal with a similar design, similar equivalent wording and identical ribbon.
The British medal was designed by W. McMillan. The front depicts a winged classical figure representing victory.
Approximately 5.7 million victory medals were issued. Interestingly, eligibility for this medal was more restrictive and not everyone who received the British War Medal also received the Victory Medal. However, in general, all recipients of the Victory medal also received 'the British War medal and all recipients of 1914-15 Star also received both 1914-15 Star and British War medal.
The recipient's service number, rank, name and unit was impressed on the rim.
The Silver War Badge
The Silver War Badge was issued on 12th September 1916.
The badge was originally issued to officers and men who were discharged or retired from the military forces as a result of sickness or injury caused by their war service. After April 1918 the eligibility was amended to include civilians serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps, female nurses, staff and aid workers.
Around the rim of the badge was inscribed “For King and Empire; Services Rendered”. It became known for this reason also as the “Services Rendered Badge”. Each badge was also engraved with a unique number on the reverse, although this number is not related to the recipient's Service Number.
The recipient would also receive a certificate with the badge. The badge was made of Sterling silver and was intended to be worn on the right breast of a recipient's civilian clothing. It could not be worn on a military uniform.
There were about 1,150,000 Silver War Badges issued in total for First World War service.
